President's Report 2012

This past year has been an interesting and active one for Mariemont Preservation Foundation.  We thank you for your membership and support of the work that we do.  We are grateful for the many Mariemont residents who support us with their membership dollars. We are also looking for members who would like to donate their time to MPF as well. Please consider giving us a few hours of your time each month to help with our mailings, or perhaps you would be interested in joining our team of docents to conduct walking tours and give presentations to our schoolchildren. If you would like to become an MPF volunteer, please contact Lisa Woodruff at administration@mariemontpreservation.org.

 MPF is actively involved in several projects that affect the historic nature of the Village. In 2012, we saw the sale of Dale Park School to the Waldorf School. MPF had several representatives involved with trying to preserve the historic nature of the building and its traditions.  The Historic Districts are an important part of Mariemont and part of Mary Emery’s dream to have a village where people of all economic levels and family condition can live together and interact for better understanding.  MPF is working towards helping landlords preserve the historic districts’ unique character as they maintain and renovate their buildings. MPF wants to find ways for landlords to maintain and improve their properties with modern, cost-saving building materials that also fit with the historic nature of the properties.  If you would like to be a part of this effort, please join us and help provide a more substantial basis for decision-making regarding our historic districts. 

 The Mariemont Directory is published every two years as a service to the community and as a fund-raiser for our organization. It is scheduled to be republished in 2013.  As technology changes have altered people’s habits when finding phone numbers and addresses, we think the directory layout will have to change as well.  We are asking for ideas as you respond to an upcoming survey which will also collect information on everyone’s address and phone number.

 Our annual Taste of Mariemont went well, with a good turn out on a beautiful day. MPF does not keep the money generated by the food sales at this event. All proceeds go to the participating restaurants. The Taste of Mariemont is our gift to the Village. In December, the annual members-only holiday party filled the room at the National Exemplar and was a good time to wind up the year’s activities.  We are planning some other events for the upcoming year and will keep you posted. If you have any ideas of events you would like to see, please let us know!

A significant change occurred this year, which I would be remiss to not mention.  Janet Setchell, MPF’s Executive Secretary and Archivist for 26 years, decided to retire.  Seth Rosin joined us for several months and helped us understand what the job entails. Seth made some very good contributions but needed to resign for family reasons, and we are now supported by Lisa Woodruff, our new Executive Secretary/Archivist.  Please welcome her when you visit.

All the best for the coming year,

 Don Keyes, President

To foster within the community an appreciation for the unique qualities of the Village.

• Increase MPF membership to 400.
• Grow the MPF endowment fund to $1,000,000
• Continue to provide in-school and other docent-guided programs.
• Maintain strong relations with Village administration.
• Maintain strong relations with the Thomas J. Emery Memorial.
• Communicate to the people of the Village the accomplishments and mission of MPF

To assure the continuity of the principles of town planning.

• Adhere to the ideals presented in John Nolen's "Master Plan" for Mariemont when addressing contemporary issues regarding town planning
• Support efforts to protect the status of Wooster Pike, encourage rerouting of US 50 traffic, and support Lunken Airport flight pattern controls, and monitor development of the "Eastern Corridor"

To collect and preserve historic archive and artifacts, and protect historic properties.

• Promote the maintenance/restoration of all historic properties in the Village of Mariemont 
   --- work for acquisition of the Ferris House.
   --- continue to advocate the preservation of Resthaven Barn and the Boathouse

• Collect historic artifacts and records as outlined in MPF's "Collections Policy".
   --- conduct interviews to record and preserve oral histories related to the Village of Mariemont.
   --- secure Madisonville Site artifacts and chronicles from private and institutional collections.

• Digitally archive artifacts and records to develop interactive and archival displays.

To perpetuate the dream of Mariemont's founder, Mary Emery, of the Village as a special place for family life.

• Support Village floral planting/landscaping activities.
• Develop historic trails as well as assure proper maintenance of the pioneer cemetery
• Promote and encourage MPF membership and participation by all age groups

  MPF Accomplishments and Activities

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Officers:      President: Don Keyes
                        Vice President:  Joe Schneider
                        Secretary:  Claire Kupferle
                        Treasurer:  Richard  E. Adams
                       
Trustees:  

Mayor, Ex-Officio:  Dan Policastro
Executive Secretary & Archivist:  Lisa Woodruff
Archival Assistant:  Linda Bartlett

Preservation of the Past, Guidance for the Present, and Design for the Future

In 1980, a handful of residents of the Village of Mariemont joined together to create the Mariemont Preservation Foundation. The organization was incorporated in December of 1980 with the stated purpose being, "To receive and maintain funds to be used for public benefit to maintain and enhance the historic integrity of the Village, to avoid urban decay and beautify the Village, and to preserve and improve parks, playgrounds and public area. Such activities are for the ultimate purpose of enriching the lives of citizens of Mariemont."

The original Board of Trustees consisted of Clarence Erickson (the mayor at that time), Jim Cunningham, Alison Rink, Paul Prevey, Hope Kain, Caroline Schwenkmeyer, Ed Steinau, Warren Harding, and Millard Rogers. Twenty-five years later, Mr. Erickson and Mr. Rogers are still active Board members.

The first undertaking of the fledgling organization was to develop a landscape plan for the Village Square. As of June 1981, the group had $972.94 in the Treasury and met in the Council Chambers. The following year, MPF drafted a Master Plan for the Village, installed two antique lamps in front of the Municipal Building, planted trees in the Village Square, presented photos of the early Village taken by Nancy Ford Cones, and began a street lamp preservation project with financial support from the Emery Memorial.

As time went on, the group took on a wider range of activities. MPF was instrumental in pushing for a ban on digging at the Madisonville Site, an area with great archaeological significance. They also began to collect materials relating to the history of the Village, and in 1985, MPF moved to the Dale Park School (currently the Junior High). There was some storage space for the burgeoning Archives, as well as space to meet and conduct business. However, as the organization continued to expand, more space was needed, and in 1989, MPF renovated the old CG&E transformer building as their permanent headquarters.

Today, MPF has expanded its mission statement to encompass a variety of activities, as follows:

"To foster within the community an appreciation of the unique qualities of the Village. To assure the continuity of the principles of town planning. To collect and preserve historic archives and artifacts, and to protect historic properties. To perpetuate the dream of Mariemont's founder, Mary Emery, of the Village as a special place for family life."

The volunteers who make up MPF's Board of Trustees are active in many areas of Village life. Some of the activities include:

• Sponsorship of Taste of Mariemont as a gift to Village residents
• Tours and presentations for area grade school children
• Grant writing to secure funds for preservation of historic buildings
• Bringing in speakers for a Spring Brunch
• Maintaining archives for visitors and research

If you would like to become more involved in the Mariemont Preservation Foundation, we have several areas where we need help:

• Archives (work under the supervision of our Archivist)
• Events (The annual Taste of Mariemont)
• Mariemont Directory (published biennially)
• Docent Program (train as a tour guide or presenter)
• Grant writing (seeking major funding)
• Website (programming, design and maintenance)

Please contact MPF about membership/volunteer opportunities:      

Email: administration@mariemontpreservation.org
Tel:  513-272-1166
3919 Plainville Road
Cincinnati, OH 45227